Re: Can Language Affect the Way We Think?

Originally Posted by vicente

BRAIN STUDY....

I've been told that this is a good example of a Brain Study and that if you can read this you have a strong mind. It seems elementary to me but I wonder how non-natives who are advanced/fluent in English would do.

Re: Can Language Affect the Way We Think?

Being a native English speaker and learning Spanish, I do think that languages have a larger effect on us as individuals and as a society. It was entertaining to learn the passive Spanish phrases which take away guilt and responsibility for breaking things or showing up late, such as "me cayo" or "me hizo tarde". In the end was it really my fault the bus took 20 minutes longer then usual to get me to work?

Re: Can Language Affect the Way We Think?

Well Amayo, it depends on if you Think in Spanish or you Think in English and translate it to Spanish.
My English teacher tells me that when you have expertise on a language, you can Think in these language. Then you can think different in English that Spanish.

I Cannot think in English, I only can Think in Spanish and translate to English, because I am not enough proficient in English.

Re: Can Language Affect the Way We Think?

Re: Can Language Affect the Way We Think?

Haha...not easy Salvadorm. It's a transition. When I am immersed in Spanish, especially with my Latin family, then I find myself thinking and talking to myself in Spanish even though I am not fluent. I consider myself proficient. I can communicate well at any level but I have to listen carefully and I cannot speak rapidly. Spanish tends to have many long multi-syllable words that tie my tongue. I can think a lot faster and more clearly than I can speak. (which is also true of my English. )

Re: Can Language Affect the Way We Think?

My Spanish is far from proficient but I can communicate my thoughts and understand most things. While studying Spanish I had an epiphany that English is a proactive language while Spanish is a reactive language. What I mean to say by this, is that in English we do/think/feel things by "choice", while in Spanish we react to our environments that make us do/think/feel things. I donīt think one is better then the other, itīs just interesting to see how this difference in the languages does effect the way we perceive things and look at life.